There is no question that rookie Derek Carr is the Raiders' quarterback of the future. When that future comes and how well he will play are both up in the air - but both those questions could start to be answered Thursday night in the team's preseason finale against the Seahawks at O.co Coliseum.

The defending Super Bowl champions will play their starters only briefly, but that (and a talented bench) will still be a great test for the second-round pick out of Fresno State. If Carr were to play well, he could even start the season opener in 10 days.

Carr is starting Thursday because Matt Schaub is out with a sore elbow. Schaub, who has been ineffective this preseason, missed the past three days of practice and, given how head coach Dennis Allen has handled such things in the past, the former Texan could get more "rest" if Carr is lights-out against Seattle.

Carr said he thinks Schaub "is going to be just fine" and isn't going to get involved in all the what-if's. He is just thrilled to be getting a lot of playing time, especially after sore ribs caused him to miss last week's game at Green Bay.

"Oh yeah," Carr said. "The more that I can be out there, the happier I'll be. That's why we work so hard in the offseason. That's why you spend so many hours here before anyone's here.

"That's why you do all those things, because you want to go out there and help the team win, and I'll be looking forward to it."

Carr said if he is needed to start in Week 1 in New York, he will be ready.

"You have to be," he said. "And again, I do everything selflessly. I do it for my teammates. I come out here and I work as hard as I can so I know when my number, if it has to be called, I'll be ready to help us win."

In two games, Carr has completed 19 of 32 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown with one interception. He has shown off his arm and improved footwork, but like any young quarterback he needs more repetitions, especially against an angry pass rush.

"He needs the experience," Allen said. "So for him to be able to get out there against a really good defense and get some more game experience will be a big part of his development."

Carr has been groomed to be a starting quarterback ever since he was a kid, watching and copying every move his brother, former Texans No. 1 overall pick David Carr, made.

Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson has said that Carr has been even better than the team thought he would be during the scouting process. Part of that is because he looks and acts like he belongs.

"I've said it from day one, the guy's comfortable in the huddle," Olson said. "I don't think the game's too fast for him, which a lot of times, that's a big concern with a rookie quarterback."

Third-string Matt McGloin will also play a lot. The second-year player out of Penn State has the best numbers on the team in the preseason (28-of-50 for 366 yards and three touchdowns), but Allen said there is a small asterisk on those statistics.

"Obviously those aren't (against) the same caliber players that you're seeing early in the game," Allen said. "You try to evaluate decision making, timing, accuracy and ability to create. Matt, when he's had an opportunity to go in there, has done some good things.

"Really, we've always had confidence in Matt McGloin."

Pryor returns: McGloin started six games for Oakland last year, and the guy who started nine will be on the other sideline. Terrelle Pryor is trying to make the Seahawks as a second- or third-string quarterback and said he won't be especially fired up to go against his old team.

Pryor wasn't in the Raiders' plans and asked for a trade after last season, and the Seahawks gave up a seventh-round pick. While he has a 44-yard touchdown run, Pryor is 10-for-22 for 147 yards with two interceptions in three games. That's good for a passer rating of 29.9, which ranks him 111th out of the 114 quarterbacks who have played in the preseason.

Thursday's game

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